Anyone up for a new hysterectomy hand holding thread?

[Northlondonma]

For those who are contemplating, have a date, had one and recovering?

I had mine keyhole with everything removed on Monday. Am 40. Would love to chat to people going through same thing.

I quite like the word oophrectomy.

I had an omentectomy, as well. Removal of the omentum. Bet you never knew you had one. Apparently, it's an apron of fat that hangs down from stomach to pubic bone and covers your organs. Someone told me it was what they use to make haggis out of. Didn't fancy it before, certainly don't now!

I think you ladies are doing TOO much. Take it easy!

So do I ! On sofa watching food network uk

Paris, I like the sound of pilates, I am a total exercise shirker, have always relied on my non driving/physical job to keep me in shape! Is it hard to master?

North, you sound like you attempted to do waaaaay too much, especially as you have additional 'issues' (I'm trying hard to refrain from mentioning your parts for once, you must be sick of it!) I hope you are taking it easy all day today?

Thyme, so the apron is on the inside? I was told many horror stories about ending up with an apron on the outside post op but seem to have escaped this. Is someone now going to tell me that the apron comes 4 weeks post op?!
I do have a 'delightful' sort of skinny sausage of flesh, like a long worm, running above the length of my wound. Dp says he can't see anything (he's a good un) my ds likes to look at it with a combination of amusement/disgust at any opportunity. I'm currently going with the if I can't see it, it's not there, so I just don't look.
I'm actually pleasantly surprised with how I look post op, possibly the only advantage of googling way too many horror stories/pictures prior to my op. Ladies that are pre op,I do not recommend this technique....

Yes - inside. It doesn't look like fat. More like membrane. As I said, like the outside of a haggis. Has a rich blood supply, therefore particularly attractive to cancer cells and a good bit to biopsy. Haven't noticed not having one, except the odd twinge near my diaphragm where there could be an internal scar/adhesion. They're doing some research to find out what it actually does. Might have some connection with obesity and diabetes.

My abdo is still lopsided, vertical scar. Fatter in profile one side than the other. Might be stuck with that. The surgeon said I didn't have enough fat to make it symmetrical. He wouldn't say that now.

Hallo!
I'm 14 months post trans vag hysterectomy, rectocele and cystocele ... Ovaries left in to stave off the menopause but I am one of the 20% for whom that doesn't work and am now starting hrt

I have absolutely NO regrets at all, immediately post surgery was really hard especially as two close friends announced pregnancies in the week after the op (I'm 42 now and would have loved another one..)

But for anyone suffering from a prolapse of any type, I was unusual to have all three but the difference in every way in my general health, comfort (bladder control is back! ) reduction of IBS symptoms, no ulcers in my large intestine (popping through the hole in the wall into my uterine cavity wasn't ever going to do it much good) is amazing!
It will take a bit longer than they say to recover from this lot, Pilates is your friend and don't try to do too much - I did and got into all sorts of trouble..
Important things I learnt
Internal scans - absolutely insist it will find all sorts of extras they should be taking care of.
Pain relief - absolutely take everything on offer, don't be stoic, it bloody hurts
Rest - 2 weeks without moving plus a further 4 with minimal movement is what we ought to do

Dun and thyme

Thanks ! I actually had slightly milder operation but still loads of internal stitches etc .

Friends and family and colleagues seem to find it odd , or even worried that at Nearly 8 weeks I am still a bit sore and in pain . Were it not for you guys I would feel abnormal !

Yes - re other people's expectations.

The sheet I got from the hospital said that I could drive 3/4 weeks, but warned me that once they saw you driving around, family would think you were back to normal. Which, as we know, is weeks/months away from the truth.

Dun - the sheet also implied that if I'd had your sort of surgery I should never lift anything heavy ever again! I still find cast iron casseroles and large joints in a roasting pan a bit of an issue.

Raked some leaves yesterday and I didn't last longer than about 30 mins. Ache today. Actually, very achey first thing in the morning every day, regardless of what I've been up to.

I've got my date for surgery! The 25th March. It's a week later than I anticipated which is a bit of a pain. It now means I will be in hospital when my daughter is off school on holiday. I was hoping I could get it done the week before so my DH didn't have to worry about childcare whilst I was in as she would be at school during the day. Oh well, it can't be helped. At least it means I can be at her school play now, as she has a part and I was a bit upset about the thought of missing her in it so every cloud has a silver lining.

Thyme, I love haggis, being a true Scot but you may have pushed me over the edge now. I'll never look at haggis the same way again. I'm glad Burns Night is past.

Great news about you getting your date mother. Any advice you need just yell. I have been doing nothing sweet nothing all day! Am reading a really fascinating biography of someone who spent 25 years in Scientology. It's absolutely mind boggling! I think I don't have time to have a job anymore what with my crap tv watching and reading.....
I've never eaten haggis. Never will now.......

Thyme yup.. My list said a 6 kg limit which has proven impossible as my laptop is almost 7......
I have dropped a little post surgery but have been reasonably good on the lifting, I really didn't lift a thing for about 12 weeks and then have gradually forgotten built it up...
I have also had problems developing core strength again because i had a sacral spinal fixation which does really pull if I heave my middle around... I tried skiing this Christmas which is now out as I cannot heave myself back up when I fall... And I usually fall a lot
I definitely cannot get a big roasting tin out of the bottom of the oven but it's a small price as I don't wee/poo myself anymore, don't have IBS, bloating, cystitis (not once since and I've had about 6 bouts a year since the age of 2...) and no more 3 week periods either!

From oh yes! many people have bizarre thoughts on how minor an operation it is... From one woman who though it was like a d&c so a few days of being sore and then up as normal to another who thought it would be keyhole and therefore no pain so a day clinic procedure and back to work later that afternoon.....

My advice is to truly listen to your body shouting, we all heal at different speeds and if you push you will pay and the day when it is all ok will get further away. You will have worse days when you will need to just lie down and sleep.

I am at the start of this journey. I hope mine ends with a hysterectomy but my GP was very dismissive of me being offered one BEFORE I had even mentioned I would like one.

I have had heavy periods with huge clots and flooding for at least 5 years. In the past two years or so they have become heavier and closer together (every 23 days now)
Thursday night I flooded the bed, through two huge nighttime pads, left a trail on the bedroom floor and a bloodbath on the bathroom floor alongside a clot the size of a hamster (I am serious, it really was that big, it scared me). It was horrible. This was the worst it had ever been.

In addition I have a prolapse, diagnosed by the nurse when I had a smeartest two years ago.
I can't sneeze, cough or laugh when I am standing up unless I cross my legs. Else I wet myself. I buy incontinence pads when I have a cold as I cannot control the weeing during the coughing fits.
If I am sitting down and I sneeze, cough or laugh I can feel the prolapse bulging in my vagina.

So, on Friday, after blood-bath-gate I took myself off to the GP.
He immediately talked coil. I tried to say 'no' and mentioned the prolapse. He said to try it.
He has referred me for a scan to see if there is a reason for the heavy periods.
He also wants me to see a female GP to have the prolapse assessed.

I am thinking that if they remove the cervix as part of the hysterectomy then they are fixing the heavy periods AND the prolapse in one go.
Am I being naïve?

What else do I need to be aware of?

Good god behind!! Make them take you seriously. It is better for nhs to dish out coils as it is the cheaper option unfortunately. It sounds horrendous. When is your scan? Can't offer advice on the bleeding as my hysterectomy was due to endometriosis but I'm sure someone here can. How old are you of you don't mind me asking? Maybe they are wanting to preserve your womb for children? Xxxx

Yes, I was going to ask you if you have or want children? My god, it sounds horrendous for you, I cannot imagine a coil would be the solution at all.
I had my tah because I had one very large fibroid, which was spotted after my gp referred me for an ultrasound. My symptoms were nothing compared to yours, I had extremely heavy periods but was managing ok and occasionally passed very small clots. I also suffered from fairly horrible ovulation pain each month and although never incontinent, I did have to go to the toilet an awful lot!
My point is, your life sounds a million times harder than mine was and I was very quickly offered treatment etc I really hope you get some proper help soon, do keep posting?

How are the rest of you? I'm feeling a bit down, I think it's the boredom and time passing so slowly! I can't believe that it's only 3 weeks and a day since my op. It feels like weeks/months since I've done anything, gone anywhere, been at work and ahem, had sex Sorry, lowering the tone again....
Anyway, I hope your all ok xx

Another one here urging you to make them take you seriously, behind. You shouldn't have to live like that. I'm also in the large fibroid camp but did have the heavy bleeding, flooding and what felt like almost constant periods but they gave me an ablation 7 years ago which fixed the bleeding problem however here I am still needing to get a hysterectomy all these years later. I feel for you.

Cosmic I am dreading the post op boredom. I will however have both son and daughter off school to keep me company (good or bad thing do you think?) but I'm not good at just doing nothing and feel myself getting stir crazy after a few days of idleness so it doesn't bode well. My poor son will be studying during the Easter holidays for his GCSEs and has to fit in some work experience during that time too as well as having me all feeble.

I have to say haven't actually been that bored!!! Lots of really good books and netflix. Also my husband works from home so there is usually someone around. Have actually been enjoying it!!!

Sorry, forgot to mention those important bits: I am 43, two dc aged 15 and 12, family complete.

Heartened to read some of your responses, I was expecting to be told to buck up my ideas and put up as neither complaint warranted a hysterectomy (which is what the GP has led me to believe)
My scan is on the 20th of Feb.
Is it worth seeing female GP in the meantime for the prolapse issue or shall I wait to see what scan shows (if anything...)?

I don't know, I'm no expert but if it was me I'd wait for the scan. Do you think you may have fibroids? You have some symptoms that suggest you do, heavy periods with clotting are a major sign. Did your gp seem concerned you maybe anaemic?

North, I'm hoping that I do start to enjoy it, I'm feeling pretty lonely though, dp works long hours and all my df are working full time or busy with very young dcs. I've been given loads of books/films but I just can't seem to get into anything ifyswim!

Yes, North. There was a point where I felt like developing Munchausens to continue enjoying the enforced inactivity. I'm nostalgic for it even now. Cosmic, how about a new project? Knitting, or something? Cold showers?

After 2 weeks, I was beginning to be able to negotiate buses and, apart from having to resist telling all and sundry about My Operation, it meant I could get out and about, albeit only a little, shopping by instalments. And then enjoy an afternoon of Breaking Bad with a clear conscience.

Never thought that being good at resting would be an asset. Mother, it sounds as if your dcs will keep you occupied. But don't overdo it. (Sorry about the haggis!)

GP did not seem concerned. He made me feel like I was wasting his time. Despite me arriving at the surgery feeling lightheaded and faint...

Will wait and see what the scan shows. I guess if the scan shows something I would be referred to the gynaecologist and could then also bring prolapse up.
If scan shows nothing I suppose it is back to the GP anyhow so will make sure prolapse gets looked at then...

Urgh.

BEHIND LOCK

screw that GP, seriously. I was operated on for fibroids and one of the ladies being done on the same day has very similar symptoms to you

If he wont help, see a Nurse practicioner and they need to refer you for a scan to see whats causing this. and at least give you mefamaic/trana acid (cant spell!) to alleviate the bleeding.

I saw a very very senior female gynae consultant and she said we should not have to put up with this (this was years ago!) so dont listen to your GP

might be you dont need a hyster but something else womb related

DO NOT suffer

I am so cross with your GP!

cosmic, embrace the boredom! you wont get this time back. IU miss it, and filled day with:

baking
tidy out cupboards
short walks
read
TV/siestas

I cant decide what tires me the most right now

work, mental energy + commute
OR
weekends, on feet with kids, housework

Thanks all, I think I will eventually embrace the boredom, I love a good cupboard clear out etc but at the moment any such activity either leaves me in pain or exhausted

I am useless at sitting still, so consequently am doing a dismal job of reading, tv watching etc My dp is quietly envious, in my shoes he would be deliriously happy and would love to sit still all day watching films!

Hope everyone is feeling ok today xx

Paris, I feel for you having to do a commute, that can't be easy